Resources

Graduation Requirements

High school students must meet the following requirements to earn a diploma and graduate:

Complete all course requirements and have the minimum number of credit units, including 160 Core Academic Courses (UC/CSU A-G courses) and 80 Green Dot electives for a total of at least 240 credit units:

UC/CSU
Requirement

Subject

Credit Units

A

History/Social Science

30

B

English

40

C

Mathematics

30

D

Science

20

E

Language Other Than English

20

F

Visual and Performing Arts

10

G

College Prep Elective

10

-

Green Dot Electives

80

All students must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) to graduate. Students first take the test in the 10th grade and have chances to retake the test in the 11th and 12th grades. More information is available on the California Department of Education website.

Every student must show proof that he or she completed 3 university applications. Students must bring proof of acceptance or denial. Incomplete applications will not be accepted! Acceptable forms for proof of application include: college correspondence via letter, e-mail, or online printout indicating acceptance or denial of admissions.

Students must complete 40 community service hours before graduation. These hours are to be turned into advisory teachers before the end of the school year.

Students must serve all detentions and suspensions and clear all other disciplinary obligations.

Students/parents must pay all financial debts owed to the school.

Students will be recognized as Distinguished Graduates if they meet the following additional requirements:

Fulfill the recommended A-G requirements, which require the following additional credit units:

UC/CSU
Requirement

Subject

Additional
Credit Units

C

Mathematics

10

D

Science

10

E

Language Other Than English

10

Complete an additional 20 community service hours before graduation.

Complete at least one UC/CSU transferrable cource with a "C" or above grade, or earn a passing grade (3 or above) on at least one Advanced Placement (AP) Exam.

Finish high school with a weighted GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Academic & College Resources

Testing Resources

The following pages contain information on each test, practice questions, and other resources:

Financing College

Don't let the high cost of college discourage you or your child. Numerous sources of financial aid can help you afford even the most expensive schools. In fact, nearly half of all college students receive some financial aid. The key is to start saving and researching now. Consider the types of college your child might attend (public, private, urban, rural), the requirements of your potential major (books, supplies), and living costs (housing, transportation, food). Estimate your child's financial needs, and begin saving money each month. Many banks offer special college savings accounts.

Financial Aid

You and your child can apply for several types of aid from federal and state agencies, private foundations, and colleges.

Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation and should be the first stop for students seeking financial aid. By completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students are considered for federal student aid. Many other financial aid programs require that students first fill out the FAFSA (including Cal Grants). To fill out the FAFSA, you will also need to complete the application for a Federal Student Aid PIN.

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is the principal state agency responsible for administering financial aid programs for students attending California colleges and universities. Students can apply for the Cal Grant program and several other financial aid programs through the CSAC website.

LA Cash for College provides free assistance to Los Angeles students and familes applying for federal and state financial aid. Visit their website to find out more about the workshops and other services they offer.

Many colleges and universities also provide financial aid to their students. You should ask each college on your list what their financial aid policies are and what it takes to apply for financial aid. Many colleges will require that you fill out the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE before applying for financial aid.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to students based on several criteria. Your child can receive a scholarship for academics, athletics, community service, and many other endeavors. FastWeb.com is a great Web site to search for scholarship opportunities. Your child can fill out an online profile and the website will match their profile with potential scholarships. The Minority Scholarship Search allows students to search for scholarships that are open to students of their race. Other organizations that offer college scholarships include: